Country-Music Stars Shine at Holiday Fundraiser in River Oaks

Wilson Parish
Country-Music Stars Shine at Holiday Fundraiser in River Oaks

Michael Humphries, Cameron Patterson, John Patterson and Jarrod Brown

A MUSICAL EVENING at River Oaks Country Club raised $600,000 for Nashville-based nonprofit Mission Lazarus, which funds transformational development work in Honduras and Haiti.


The “Songs on a Mission” gala, an annual event since 2017, kicked off with cocktails in the foyer, where guests browsed a selection of silent auction items before heading into the ballroom for dinner. Emcee Bryan Simpson, a singer-songwriter, introduced himself along with the other musical guests, Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson, who together have written hits sung by Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and many others. They performed their chart-toppers for the enthralled crowd of 200.

After the jam sesh, the live auction kept the energy high, with prizes like a Caribbean yacht trip and a resort weekend at Horseshoe Bay; the raffle and door prizes contributed greatly to the evening’s total till as well.

Zach Crowell, Bryan Simpson and Ben Johnson

Andi and Chad St. Jean

Traci Morrow, Tiffany Morrow and Kim Jenkins

Bret and Angela Strong

Shari and Ed Wood

Bryan Simpson, Zach Crowell and Ben Johnson on stage

Robert and Stacy Beasley

Gabi and Jarrod Brown

Herb and Alice Burtrum

Rex and Pam Lindberg

Justin and Casey Pollard

Niki Smith and Terri Tarwater

Mia and Jeff Calvert

Lindsey and Carson Tomalin

Mercedes and Ben Ahiabor

Mark and Rhonda Norville, Jeanae King and Mike Aldridge

Parties

'We Rise Together,' part of CHAT's Gulfton Story Trail, in background; inset, a mural by Daniel Anguilu

WITH AN AESTHETIC that reads as something between stained-glass and graffiti, Daniel Anguilu is arguably one of the best-known street artists in Houston. The vibrant, abstracted and large-scale pieces often feature motifs inspired by his Mexican heritage, and also address injustice and political issues like immigration.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

IT’S THAT TIME of year again — already! — and The Union Kitchen is honoring teachers and educators with a gratis brunch this weekend at all locations.

Keep Reading Show less
Food